IDF Gen. Amos Gilad:'There Is No Immediate Iranian Nuclear Threat But Iranians Have Great Determination To Acquire The Bomb'

IsraCast Assessment: Israel Will Not Consider Armageddon Decision On Attacking Iran Until Irrefutable Evidence That Iranians Are About To Acquire Nuclear Weapons'

Is Israel about to launch a preemptive military strike against Iran's nuclear weapons facilties possibly before winter? Nahum Barnea, a leading commentator for the Yediot Ahronot newspaper answers his own question by writing that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are pushing for such an operation, against the advice of their own senior military and intelligence advisers. How much credence should be given the Yediot Ahronot story?

'Israel Will Now Adopt New Norms & Principles Similar To U.S., Britain & Australia'

'Palestinian Terrorist Leaders Responsible For Kidnappings Know They May Be Very Close To Having Their Heads Separated from Their Bodies!'

Israeli leaders are now going back to the drawing board for drafting a new policy for prisoner exchanges. In a media blitz to the Israeli public, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has indicated the government will not carry out another lopsided prisoner swap - 1027 Palestinian terrorists for one kidnapped IDF soldier. After remaining silent during the recent public debate, Opposition leader Tzipi Livni of the Kadima party has now condemned the exchange as a blow to Israel that has strengthened Hamas and weakened the more moderate West Bank President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israel Embraces Sgt. Gilad Shalit As Brave Hero

IsraCast Assessment: Israel Must Now Adopt Different Policy Toward Future Palestinian Kidnapping Attempts To Cope With New Raids Promised By Hamas

Israel has welcomed Sgt. Gilad Shalit with a massive outpouring of love and relief while also bracing for a new wave of Hamas terror attacks. In the Palestinian camp, the return of 1027 terrorists for one Israeli soldier is being viewed as a 'glorious victory' and a precedent for gaining the release of some 5,000 other terrorists now serving time in Israeli prisons. Prime Minister Netanyahu's government will likely consider a different, more tougher, approach that could not be adopted while Shalit was being held in a Hamas dungeon.

Massive Support For Prime Minister Netanyahu's Prisoner Exchange Reflected in Cabinet Vote & Public At Large

If all goes according to plan, IDF Sergeant Gilad Shalit will be exchanged for 1027 Palestinian terrorists on October 18th. Although Israel refused to free some top Hamas terrorists, Hamas claims that it achieved 'more than 90% of its demands'. Hamas chief Haled Meshal has also indicated that he will launch more attacks to kidnap IDF soldiers to use as bargaining chips for freeing the remaining 8,000 terrorists serving time in Israeli prisons. Nonetheless, IsraCast analyst David Essing is of the view that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has massive public support for the lopsided prisoner swap.

Nobel Prizes To Four Jewish Scientists Again Illustrates Contribution Of Jewish People To World Civilization

Israel Police Arrest Israeli Suspected Of Torching Mosque In Galilee Village Amid Wall to Wall Condemnation Of Attack By All Of Israel's Political Spectrum

Rudy Guiliani: 'America's Grass Roots Support For Israel Is Greater Than Ever - I'll Decide Whether To Seek Republican Presidential Nomination In Another Month or Two'

Israel's New Jewish Year kicked off amid jubilation over an Israeli scientist winning another Nobel Prize. But there was a dark down side; the country was shocked by the torching of a mosque in an Arab village in Galilee. And interviewed in Geneva by an Israeli newspaper former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani disclosed that he would decide, within a month or two, whether to again seek the Republican presidential nomination. Giuliani criticized U.S. Barack Obama's favoring the Palestinian Authority over Israel, noting that grass roots support for Israel is greater than ever.

New Jewish Year Enters Amid Regional Uncertainty Of 'Arab Spring' Coupled With Internal Demand For Redistribution Of National Wealth

In the new year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Is Expected To Continue His Israel Bashing While Egypt's New Regime May Also Pose New Difficulties For Jewish State

On The Domestic Front, 'Social Justice' Protest Movement Pledges To Step Up Pressure For More Egalitarian Society

Israelis celebrated the New Jewish Year 5722 with the 'Arab Spring' yet to run its course and certainly with results that will have far reaching ramifications for their country. Against this backdrop, the young generation of Israelis have ignited the vision of a more egalitarian society and they are about to launch a new campaign to achieve it.

International Quartet Proposes New Round Of Israeli- Palestinian Peace Talks After Palestinian Bid Fails For Full UN Recognition

Prime Minister Netanyahu: 'I'm Ready To Go To Serious Negotiations Prepared To Give But Also To Get'. President Abbas Says He Will Consult First With Palestinian Leadership While Insisting On Reference to 1967 Lines & Settlements'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has apparently failed in his attempt to acquire UN Security Council for full recognition of a Palestinian state. This after U.S. President Barack Obama declared that peace between Israel and the Palestinians could only be negotiated by the parties and not imposed by UN resolutions. The U.S. could cast her veto to block the Palestinian application, if nine of the fifteen members voted in favor. The international Quartet is now trying to resuscitate the moribund peace talks - Netanyahu has said Yes, Abbas has yet to announce his position.

U.S. Conducting Urgent Contacts In New York For Solution To Jump-start Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks & Prevent Clash In Security Council

West Bank Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas Determined To Pursue Security Council Vote While Gaza Palestinian Leader Ismail Haniya Opposes UN Move Declaring Palestinians Will Never Recognize Israel Or Give Up An Inch Of Their Territory

West Bank Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Ismail Haniya, the Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza, have again crossed swords - this time over the attempt by Abbas to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state, based on the lines of June 4th,1967. This implies Abbas's recognition of Israel in the remaining territory. However in Gaza, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, who represents at least half of the Palestinian population has categorically rejected the Abbas move declaring: 'The Palestinians will never recognize Israel or give up an inch of their land!' Hamas, an ally of Iran, also subscribes to Tehran's vow to wipe Israel 'off the map'. In effect, Mahmoud Abbas will be calling on the UN to recognize a Palestinian state that also declares its intention to annihilate another UN member state.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: 'US President Barack Obama Deserves Special Thanks For His Role In Saving Lives Of Our Six Security Guards Who Were Threatened By Mob Inside Cairo Embassy'

Middle East Spring Is Turning Israel Into Scapegoat For Islamist Violence From Egyptian Rioters To Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan

IsraCast: Two Incidents Illustrate Different Approaches By Egyptian & Turkish Leaderships To Israel.

The 'Arab Spring' erupted against the Jewish state in Cairo where a mob, protesting against the Supreme Military Council in Freedom Square, turned its rage against the Israeli embassy. They smashed through a security wall, recently constructed by the Egyptian authorities, broke into the embassy and threatened the six Israeli guards. The lives of the guards hand in the balance before they were rescued by Egyptian commandos at the last moment. The Egyptian incident came within days of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's threat to send his warships to break Israel's legal blockade of Gaza. Analyst David Essing is of the view the two incidents have illustrated the differing approaches by the Egyptian and Turkish leaderships to Israel amid the current chaos in the region.

Turkey Expels Israeli Ambassador, Severs Military Ties & Warns Of Further Sanctions Although Palmer Report Rules That Israel's Naval Blockade Of Gaza Is Legal Under International Law

Israeli Cabinet Split Over Whether Israel Should Have Apologized To Turkey Over Deaths of Nine Turks Killed While attacking Israeli Commandos

IsraCast Assessment: Turkey's Islamist Regime Appears Bent On Restoring Influence Of Despotic Ottoman Empire After Being Rejected By European Union

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan and his Islamist regime is not taking No for an answer - the Turks have rejected the Palmer Report's finding that Israel's naval blockade of Gaza is legal. Ankara is now planning to go to the International Court of Justice in the Hague to contest the inquiry into the operation by Israeli naval commandos to prevent the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara and other ships from breaking Israel's legal blockade.Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has also declared that Israel will pay by losing Turkey's friendship as well as suffering Turkish sanctions. Analyst David Essing is of the view the Mavi Marmara, like pirate ships of the past, sailed under false colors to Gaza and the affair has now revealed where Turkey is now headed.